September 30, 2013

Summer Vegetable Salad

Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, picnic, or simply craving a light and healthy meal, a summer vegetable salad is the perfect choice to tantalize your taste buds and keep you cool.

Summatime, summatime, sum sum summatime. As the days grow shorter, so does our time left with summer produce.

Lovely tomatoes. Fresh okra. Crisp green beans. Peppers that bite.

They all come together in this salad recipe that is as healthy as it is delicious.

Tips For Making A Summer Vegetable Salad

Start with Fresh, Seasonal Produce: The key to a delicious summer salad lies in the quality of your ingredients. Visit your local farmer’s market or grocery store to pick up the freshest seasonal vegetables available. Think juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, sweet corn, colorful bell peppers, and crisp lettuce.
Mix Up Your Greens: While lettuce is a classic base for salads, consider mixing in other greens like spinach, arugula, or kale for added flavor and nutritional value. These greens offer different textures and nutrients, making your salad more interesting and wholesome. Or like the recipe below, use all vegetables and forego the lettuce!
Add a Variety of Colors and Textures: Aim for a diverse range of colors and textures in your salad to make it visually appealing and flavorful. Incorporate a mix of raw, roasted, and grilled vegetables to add depth and complexity. Think about including ingredients like roasted sweet potatoes, grilled zucchini, or marinated artichoke hearts for a burst of flavor.
Balance Sweet and Savory Flavors: Summer vegetables are naturally sweet and flavorful, but balancing them with savory elements can take your salad to the next level. Consider adding ingredients like tangy feta cheese, salty olives, or toasted nuts to contrast and enhance the sweetness of the vegetables.
Don’t Forget the Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs are a secret weapon for adding brightness and depth to your salad. Chop up some fragrant basil, mint, cilantro, or parsley and toss them into the mix for a burst of freshness that will elevate the entire dish.
Dress it Up: A homemade dressing can tie all the flavors of your salad together and elevate it from good to great. Keep it simple with a classic vinaigrette made with olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and seasonings, or get creative with creamy dressings like tahini or yogurt-based sauces.
Experiment and Have Fun: The beauty of a summer vegetable salad lies in its versatility and adaptability. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations of vegetables, herbs, and dressings to find what works best for your taste buds. And remember, cooking should be fun, so don’t be afraid to get creative and enjoy the process!

My Summer Vegetable Salad

The star of the show is fresh lima beans I picked up from our farmer’s market. Pot Luck Farm got me hooked on theirs. Since they are fresh, they don’t need to be soaked – just boil slowly for about 30 minutes and you have perfectly tender beans. If you aren’t so lucky to find fresh limas, you can definitely use canned or frozen. You could also swap in any kind of bean you like!

I boiled my limas as directed and added my green beans in the last 3 minutes to give them a quick blanch.

Meanwhile, my okra roasted in the oven after tossing with smoked paprika, salt and olive oil

I chopped up the tomatoes and some cilantro and made a dressing to pull the dish together.

Vegetable Salad Dressing Recipes

Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

This is my classic honey mustard dressing – equal parts honey, lemon, olive oil and mustard plus garlic and salt for flavor.

Every Herb Salad Dressing

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Every Herb Salad Dressing

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Author Kath Younger

Ingredients

1/2 cup mixed herbs
3 tbsp olive oil oil
3 tbsp plain yogurt
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp kosher salt
Dash black pepper

Instructions

Place all ingredients into a blender and whirl away!

White Balsamic Dressing

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White Balsamic Dressing

This simple homemade dressing is great for all kinds of salads.

Course Salads

Cuisine American

Keyword olive oil, salad dressing

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings 2 big salads

Ingredients

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp honey
Big pinch salt
3 grinds black pepper
1 pinch garlic powder or 1 clove fresh garlic, minced

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a blender and whirl!

Notes

Makes about 6 ounces of dressing.

Thick Balsamic Dressing

My friend Sara's sister invented this dressing in her magic bullet. It's frothy and thick and unlike a thin vinegar-based dressing despite having the same ingredients.

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings 1 Cup

Author Kath Younger

Ingredients

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
2/3 cup olive oil
2 tsp agave nectar or maple syrup
2 tsp dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste a big pinch of each
Italian seasoning to taste a big pinch

Instructions

Blend away!

Ideas For A Summer Veggie Salad

Whether you’re perusing fresh produce the farmer’s market or getting a lot of seasonal veg from your farm share, you can use pretty much any summer veggie you’d like in this recipe! Some you’ll want to pre-cook or blanch and others you can toss in raw. Some ideas include:

English cucumber
Roasted eggplant
Heirloom tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
Diced and sautéed zucchini
Sugar snap peas
Corn kernels cut off the cob
Mixed grilled vegetables
Roasted baby potatoes
Beans of all varieties!

Topping Ideas

Feta cheese
Goat cheese
Toasted panko
Kalamata olives
Toasted bread (a la panzanella)
Fresh mozzarella balls
Fresh herbs

Use this recipe as a side dish to any grilled meats or to bring to a potluck.

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